diy prop tank bowing a little

[rtbm]

I scrapped a cracked 125 acrylic tank and built a 2'x4'14" prop tank. The acrylic is 7/16 thick and the bracing is 3/8ths.

heres a couple pics to give you an idea of what it looks like.

well anyway I have noticed the sides are bowing out just a little. about an 1/8 on each side. I assume it's probably been this way for a little while now but I only noticed it yesterday. Is this something I should be concerned about? I could easily slap a brace across the center but I thought I'd get some opinions about this before I went to town on it. The tank has been up since this past august. You may notice theres no styrofoam under it in the 2nd pic. I added a piece a few months ago for good measure.

thanks

 

[mr pink floyd]

im no expert but i doubet its any reason for concern. on my 12 gallon behind tank sump thingy i have liek 1/2 inch of bowing on each side with 1/4" acrylic and its been fine for months

 

[RokleM]

From what I've read doing my acrylic building research, you're likely ok. A 1/16-1/8th over a long span is pretty normal and acceptable. Your brace on the top doesn't look to be very big, but if that minor bow is all you have I'd say you're doing just fine.

1/2" bow on a 12 gallon setup on the other hand is an impending disaster just waiting to happen. I don't think anyone will agree that's anywhere near normal or acceptable.

 

[Reef_bones]

Why is the picture over 5 years old..lol

 

[rtbm]

the date wasnt set on the camera. And as usuaul I was rushing a bit that night. I do feel better about the tank now. You know you just have to ask about things like this. I've never had a tank I built fail so I really don't know what it would take to do so. I am knocking on wood however now.